P007775 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2025-07-17 human Ken McInnes updated 2026-01-14 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007775b.htm person Leach John Digby CBE AACR2 25 November 1897 26 October 1966 Place of Birth Yarm-on-Tees, Yorkshire, England Place of Death Perth, Western Australia, Australia Civil engineer Public servant Digby Leach, CBE BSc BE MIEAust, was an engineer with the Main Roads Board / Department, Western Australia, from its establishment in 1926, rising to the position of Commissioner from 1952. Works under his administration included the planning of the metropolitan road system; the first major works required by that plan - the Perth-Canning Bridge section of the Kwinana Freeway, and the Narrows Bridge and approaches; and the construction of low-cost developmental roads in sparsely populated areas using a technique of mechanical stabilization suitable for dry conditions. Active within the engineering profession, he was Chairman of the Perth Division of the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1949, and was National President in 1964. His outstanding engineering service was acknowledged when he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1964. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Region Planning Committee, the Tourist Development Authority, President of the Astronomical Society of W.A., Vice-President of the National Safety Council, a member of the Australian Road Research Board, and a member of the Institute of Transport. Leach is commemorated by the naming of the Leach Highway, in Perth, Western Australia, and Leach Street, in Monash, ACT. 1906 1906 Life event - Emigrated to Fremantle, Australia, with parents. 1910 1910 Education - Perth Boys School. Primary Examination Certificate, issued by University of Adelaide 1916 1919 Military service - First World War. Gunner, 3rd Brigade Artillery, Australian Imperial Force [served in France] 1921 1921 Career event - Student Member (StudIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1922 1922 Education - Bachelor of Science (Engineering), University of Western Australia [Completion delayed by Military Service] 1922 1923 Career position - Field surveying assistant, Public Works Department, Western Australia 1923 1926 Career position - Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department, Western Australia 1925 1925 Life event - Married Grace Lilian Wright, Perth, Western Australia 1926 1927 Career position - Engineer, Main Roads Board, Western Australia 1927 1927 Career event - Junior Member (JrIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1927 1927 Career event - Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1927 1931 Career position - District Engineer, Main Roads Board, Western Australia 1932 1940 Career position - Executive engineer to Director of Works and to the Commissioner of Main Roads 1935 1935 Education - Bachelor of Engineering (BE), by thesis, University of Western Australia 1946 1951 Career position - Chief Engineer, Main Roads Department 1948 1948 Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1949 1949 Career position - Chairman, Perth Division, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1950 1951 Career position - Member of Council, Institution of Engineers Australia 1951 1952 Career position - Deputy Commissioner, Main Roads Department, Western Australia 1952 1952 Career position - Commissioner, Main Roads Department, Western Australia 1953 1954 Career position - President, Astronomical Society of Western Australia 1959 1966 Career position - Member of Council, Institution of Engineers Australia 1960 1964 Career position - Board Member, Australian Road Research Board 1962 1963 Career position - Vice-President, Institution of Engineers Australia 1964 1964 Career position - President, Institution of Engineers Australia 1964 1964 Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - Commissioner of Main Roads - Western Australia 1966 1966 Life event - Memorialised, Crematorium Rose garden, Karrakatta Cemetery Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

President 1964; Chairman Perth Division 1949

 Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) (1960 - 1995)

Board member 1960 - 1964

 Main Roads Department, State of Western Australia (1930 - )

Commissioner 1953 - 1966

 'Leach, John Digby (Digby)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Leach, John Digby (Digby) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: The vital link : a history of Main Roads Western Australia 1926-1996 Edmonds, Leigh The vital link : a history of Main Roads Western Australia 1926-1996 Nedlands, WA University of Western Australia Press 1997 Journal Article: The building of the main and developmental road system in Western Australia, 1926-1956 Leach, J. D. The building of the main and developmental road system in Western Australia, 1926-1956 1956 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 28 12 317-326 Resource Section: Engineering Heritage : Biographies Engineering Heritage : Biographies Engineering Heritage Australia 2024 Engineering Heritage Australia : wiki website Journal Article: Corrugations on gravel roads [Abstract of Paper] Leach, John Digby Corrugations on gravel roads [Abstract of Paper] Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1927 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 7 591-594 Journal Article: Presidential address [1965] - The role of the engineer in the development of the resources of Australia and its Territories Leach, J. D. Presidential address [1965] - The role of the engineer in the development of the resources of Australia and its Territories 1965 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 37 4-5 97-102 Journal Article: President of The Institution for 1964 [J. D. Leach] President of The Institution for 1964 [J. D. Leach] 1964 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 36 4-5 N27 Journal Article: Obituary : John Digby Leach - Past President Obituary : John Digby Leach - Past President 1966 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 38 12 N122 Resource: B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 CA 2001 Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch